Sunlight streamed from the sky above, and Hoshigaki Sora gazed around in mild confusion.
"Where… am I?"
An odd humming echoed in his ears, causing him to involuntarily furrow his brow.
Suddenly, a crimson silhouette flashed across the sky.
Huh?! What was that just now?
Sora rubbed his eyes in puzzlement, quickly noticing the completely mirrored billboards overhead.
This realization widened his eyes, and glancing around, he soon found something peculiar.
Not just the billboards—license plates, convenience store signs—everything was mirrored.
"Could this be…?"
Right at that moment, a sound of movement came from behind. Turning around excitedly, Sora saw…
…A massive, fiery-red dragon, growling lowly right behind him.
"Roar~" (Brother, you smell delicious.)
The crimson eastern dragon sniffed eagerly, an intoxicated expression spreading across its face, as if savoring a rare delicacy.
"Uh, actually, I haven't bathed…" Sora awkwardly stepped back two paces.
"Roar~" (No matter. Adds another flavor to it.)
Oh no, how did I suddenly run into a knight who's out farming mobs?
And somehow, I became the mob? Isn't this just tragic?
At that moment, someone riding a motorcycle rushed towards them from afar, roaring past without even slowing down.
Sora and the crimson dragon simply watched as he zipped by, utterly indifferent, as though oblivious to their presence.
"Gao~" (This guy just doesn't like traffic, so he commutes through this world instead.)
Seeing its contractee behaving this way, Dragreder offered Sora a casual explanation.
Sora nodded solemnly in response. Don't worry, I definitely won't copy him.
Because I don't have a job to commute to!
Then, as if remembering something, the motorcycle rider doubled back quickly.
"Ah, damn! Almost forgot, almost forgot!" Kido Shinji scratched his head, wearing his signature goofy smile.
He pulled a [Card Deck] from his pocket, placing it into Sora's hand.
"I don't really know if this power will help you, but I still wanted to lend you a hand."
With sincerity, Kido Shinji said, "Don't hesitate, don't waver. On this path, every step forward saves a life."
"There are still many lives on your side needing help. Believe you can prevent this disaster—just like I did back then."
"The thing I believe in, huh…?" Sora muttered softly.
"Yeah, the thing you believe in. If even you yourself don't believe in what you've chosen… um… uh…"
Kido Shinji's voice trailed off abruptly. He thought hard but couldn't recall the rest of the sentence.
He quietly leaned in and whispered into Sora's ear, "Hey, um, do you remember the rest of the line?"
"Ah, that's the only part I remember, too."
Silence fell awkwardly between them, until eventually, they both laughed.
"Hahahahaha!" ×2
At times like this, laughter was indeed the best disguise for embarrassment!
Behind them, Dragreder watched the two helplessly, rubbing its forehead in exasperation. Why did these two feel so similar?
The environment faded away, and Sora's consciousness returned to his body.
The [Card Deck] in his hand radiated gentle warmth, seemingly calling out to him.
"Hehe." Sora brought it closer, smiling at the dragon emblem atop the deck.
"If you yourself don't believe in what you've chosen, naturally no one else will ever understand your struggles."
That was the complete version of the line.
Of course, Sora had memorized it perfectly. But did it really need to be said back then?
Not at all. He wasn't like Shinji, after all.
He wasn't foolish in the slightest, and his emotional intelligence was through the roof!
Having acquired this power, it was now time for him to act.
As if responding to his resolve, a tiny, adorable red dragon flew out from the [Card Deck].
It circled around Sora's body, letting out small growls.
"Oh? You can't hold back either, huh? Want to fight together already?" Sora felt excitement surge, watching the small dragon encircle him.
"Roar!" (Eh? Who said anything about that? I just came out to eat!)
"Gao!" (Feed me well and we can talk about anything! You're just too delicious—I can't help myself!)
Eh?!
Sora paused, stunned, as he felt a slight prick of pain on his right index finger.
Looking down, he saw Dragreder nibbling on his finger, steadily drawing energy from him.
As it sucked, Sora clearly saw faint threads of golden energy flowing into its belly.
My life force?
No…
Sora felt no weakness or discomfort at all.
This energy was…
"Chomp~" (Something inside you tastes like roasted bugs—so delicious!)
Dragreder hovered near Sora, clarifying the true nature of this energy.
It was the lingering power left inside him by Titania—now completely devoured by Dragreder.
As the dragon finished eating, Sora couldn't help but think it seemed slightly bigger.
"Roar!" (It's no illusion! But now I'm sleepy. Talk to me again when you find something tasty.)
With that, Dragreder returned to the [Card Deck], falling silent.
The extraction space again became still, leaving Sora alone, resolutely staring at the deck in his hand.
Since you want to eat, there's a feast spanning hundreds of light-years ahead.
As for me, I've also made my decision.
For the sake… of what I believe in!
...
The meeting regarding the suppression of the Swarm Disaster began once again, and just as Robin had predicted last time, nearly all major faction leaders were absent today, sending only their deputies in their stead.
Only a handful of smaller factions still stubbornly sent their leaders; otherwise, this absence was universal.
Yet, among those present from major factions, two figures stood out prominently—General Jing Yuan from the Xianzhou Luofu, and Doctor Ratio from the Intelligentsia Guild.
These two alone persisted in attending personally; even Ruan Mei, who accompanied Ratio previously, had been replaced by another scholar this time.
Now, the two of them essentially occupied the highest standing in this room.
This situation left the attending deputies somewhat baffled.
Even their bosses had decided to disregard this matter—why did the Xianzhou and the Intelligentsia Guild still care so much?
But what they didn't realize was that both men had come for one person alone.
What neither of them anticipated, however, was that the person in question hadn't shown up today!
Ratio's expression remained hidden behind his plaster mask, his gaze fixed upon the empty seat.
Oh? That idiot actually skipped today?
Jing Yuan discreetly exchanged messages with Tingyun behind him, but unexpectedly, she also had no idea where he was.
"How strange. Where has Mr. Sora run off to?" Jing Yuan's gaze once again drifted towards the empty seat beside Robin.
That seat, which belonged to Sora, had remained empty since the very beginning of the meeting.
Every Galaxy Ranger had their own creed. Since Sora had joined them, he certainly wouldn't consider fleeing.
Retreat did not exist in the Ranger code—even when confronting the Emanators of Destruction, they never retreated a single step.
Then the question remained: where had Sora gone?
The meeting dragged onward, slowly approaching its conclusion. Eventually, the Interastral Peace Corporation's representative switched back to Jade.
Jade's gaze immediately drifted toward the man who'd left such a strong impression on her yesterday.
But this time, she saw only an empty chair—the figure who had stood defiantly before her yesterday was absent today.
"An outright absence, huh?"
Had yesterday's events been too difficult for him to accept?
Or was he seriously planning to single-handedly break through the Swarm Disaster stretching hundreds of light-years?
If that really was the case…
"Then you truly overestimate yourself," Jade muttered quietly, recalling all the information she had on Sora.
"I can understand not wanting to see lives vanish right in front of you."
But ending a swarm spanning hundreds of light-years was something only an Aeon could accomplish.
For everyone else, lamenting helplessly was the only realistic outcome.
A catastrophe of this scale was impossible without sacrifice. It was time to accept reality.
With a resigned sigh, Jade prepared to formally end the meeting.
But just then, Robin stood abruptly.
"I request that the IPC quickly arrange a fleet capable of mass evacuation."
Her proposal, coming at this juncture, was abrupt and puzzling.
Evacuation ships now? Wasn't it more logical to request battleships with overwhelming firepower?
"As the IPC's former director, I support Miss Robin's proposal," Jobs chimed in, lending weight to Robin's request.
Hearing this, Jade's confusion deepened further.
"Director Jobs, you should know the IPC's regulations," Jade said sternly. "At such a critical time, please explain clearly your reason for requesting these ships."
Jobs replied plainly, "Because of a very simple matter…"
...
A short time earlier.
"I'll leave matters here to you two. I'm going to see if I can force open a path myself," Sora said firmly to Robin and Jobs. "I can't make heads or tails of all the IPC's politicking anyway. I trust you both to handle things here."
After all, Jobs was a former director of the IPC, and Robin was the spokesperson for her family.
Their presence here was far more useful than his own, so there was no need for them to follow him into the Swarm Disaster zone.
"But isn't the Xianzhou Alliance already en route?" Robin asked anxiously. "Why must you choose this moment to fight?"
Wouldn't it be better to wait until the Alliance arrived, then combine all forces?
The Swarm Disaster was endless—what if Sora fell into danger before they arrived?
Jobs also spoke up, "Indeed, Mr. Sora. You should conserve your strength now. Once the Xianzhou Alliance arrives, you won't get another chance to rest."
"Hahaha, when have I ever rested?" Sora smiled slightly, his expression soon returning to solemnity. "But if I rest now, someone might lose their life in this very moment."
That was the harsh reality they faced.
The Swarm Disaster covered hundreds of light-years, with countless lives hanging by a thread.
Every second he rested meant someone's life disappearing forever.
So…
"I must fight. If I fight now, more lives can be saved."
As long as he fought, insects would perish completely.
As long as enough insects died, innocent lives wouldn't suffer.
"I won't stop fighting—I'll keep going until the Swarm Disaster is utterly silenced!"
Sora held the [Card Deck], its surface gleaming like a mirror.
A belt emerged from within, swiftly wrapping itself around his waist.
"[Henshin]!"
The [Card Deck] slid into place, three afterimages layered over Sora's figure, and the red-and-silver warrior appeared in full form.
Robin and Jobs looked at him, finally understanding his decision.
"We'll do our best for you…"
"We'll ensure you have the support you need, so—" Jobs's words were cut short by Robin, who stepped forward, meeting Sora's gaze firmly.
"Don't die."
"Relax." Sora's reply was brief. Truthfully, he simply didn't want to jinx himself by saying more.
"Then, safe travels. I'm still waiting for you to write songs for me."
Robin stepped back, watching silently as Sora turned toward the ship, Silver Radiance, walking into its silvery glow alongside his companions.
She watched the Silver Radiance soar into space, watched as a crimson dragon suddenly appeared, entwining itself protectively around the ship.
Her eyes widened briefly before a faint smile appeared.
Another secret you've kept hidden.
"I thought you'd go along with him," Jobs remarked to Robin.
"My strength is useless in that place," Robin said calmly. "I can better support him from here, ensuring he has no distractions."
Thus…
...
"Because of a very simple matter. Soon, there will be a large number of refugees evacuated from the Swarm Disaster zone."
Robin's voice resonated clearly and firmly in the meeting room. "Therefore, I request that the IPC prepare sufficient ships within two days."
"This is a demand from The Family."
"And likewise, a request from me as a former director," Jobs added solemnly.
Listening carefully to the demands from these two, Jade swiftly realized what was happening.
"That fellow, Sora, went into the Swarm Disaster zone alone?"
Though Jing Yuan's expression remained unchanged, his gently narrowed eyes revealed his cheerful mood.
Even Doctor Ratio's normally blank face curved into a slight smile beneath the plaster mask. Typical idiots, always doing something beyond my expectations.
Only Sunday, sitting far away in Penacony, suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo!" He glanced upward into boundless space, sighing nostalgically. "Did Robin suddenly start missing her dear elder brother?"
It must be because she saw me yesterday, and the wave of nostalgia finally reached me.
After all, wasn't he her beloved sibling?
But just then, Sunday heard the Interastral Peace Corporation's communication channel come alive…